The event is an informational meeting about knee replacement surgery, complete with free food. For more information about the program, call 970-824-9411.

If you go

What: Mammos and Margaritas

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

Where: The Holiday Inn of Craig

The event is an informational meeting about breast cancer awareness. Free margaritas and Mexican appetizers will be provided. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Memorial Hospital and Rocky Mountain Radiology will offer discounted mammograms. For more information, call 970-826-3150.

Craig  The sterility of a doctor’s office can be intimidating when you’re there to talk about an issue that significantly could impact your life. Hopefully, the relaxed environment of a pair of upcoming events will put community members at ease about their physiological health.

The Memorial Hospital will host informative meetings about its Joint Clinic and breast cancer awareness at venues outside and in Craig within the next week.

The Joint Clinic event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at The Haven in Hayden. Those interested in speaking with medical professionals about the possibility of knee replacement surgery can stop by to get a free slice of pizza or a calzone provided by Wolf Mountain Pizza while speaking about the topic with orthopedic surgeons Michael Sisk and Andreas Sauerbrey.

The event provides a basic breakdown of the knee surgery process for those considering it, said Jennifer Riley, TMH chief of organizational excellence.

“It’s everything they need to know pre-operatively, things they need to think about to prepare their home, what they might need in the way of help, what to expect the day of surgery. It’s a lot to think about,” she said.

Sisk and Sauerbrey also will discuss the benefits of the Biomet knee prostheses used in their procedures.

“It’s not just a small, medium or large,” Riley said. “It’s a knee made for you. That procedure has changed tremendously. It went from being a 90-minute to two-hour surgery to being 30 to 45 minutes. It decreases your recovery time, and they’ve had people up and walking 24 hours after their surgery.”

And, if you’re unable to attend the meeting, the hospital plans to host similar informative functions in the near future.

“We’re trying to reach out to Hayden for now, but we’ll be having one in Craig soon,” Riley said.

Residents won’t have to leave city limits for a different kind of gathering, TMH’s Mammos and Margaritas, starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at The Holiday Inn of Craig.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the hospital invites community members to partake in some margaritas and healthy Mexican menu items while learning about the importance of mammography as a tool in treating breast cancer.

Men and women alike are encouraged to stay up to date with the health concern. Women in particular, especially those older than 40, should take the threat of breast cancer seriously, said Jackie Smith, TMH’s nurse navigator.

“You should get (mammograms) yearly once you turn 40, but there are also different risk factors where you might want to start even earlier,” she said.

Several TMH staff members will speak about breast cancer treatment and related subjects. Although there will be serious conversation during the night, the point of the event is to provide a light atmosphere for a matter that’s very nerve-wracking for many people.

“It’ll be a fun get-together,” Smith said.

TMH, in conjunction with Rocky Mountain Radiology, will offer discounted mammograms throughout the month. For more information, call 970-826-3150.